Pope Francis Reflects on why he chose Francis for a name...
I added this to my post on the Feast of St. Francis in 2012
Considering all the talk about St. Francis, I think it is worthy of the encore!
Enjoy this meditation on "The Peace Prayer"...
The Prayer of St. Francis...
From the Article: "Who Wrote the Prayer of St. Francis" by Friar Jack Wintz, O.F.M.
The first appearance of the Peace Prayer
According to Dr. Christian Renoux of the University of Orleans in France, it “occurred in France in 1912 in a small spiritual magazine called La Clochette (the little bell). The prayer bore the title of Belle priere a faire pendant la messe; “A Beautiful Prayer to Say During the Mass” and was published anonymously. The prayer was sent in French to Pope Benedict XV in 1915. This was soon followed by its 1916 appearance, in Italian, in theOsservatore Romano. Around 1920, the prayer was printed by a French Franciscan priest on the back of an image of St. Francis with the title Priere pour la paix, “Prayer for Peace,” but without being attributed to the saint. Between the two World Wars, the prayer circulated in Europe and was translated into English, [appearing] in 1936 in Living Courageously, a book by Kirby Page (1890-1957), a Disciples of Christ minister. [Mr.] Page attributed the text to St. Francis of Assisi. During the Second World War and immediately after, this prayer for peace began circulating widely as the Prayer of St. Francis and over the years has gained a worldwide popularity with people of all faiths.”
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Like that of Christ, our mission on earth is to bring to others God’s peace-- Shalom is a wish that those so greeted will find healing and fullness of life. St. Francis saw this as his mission, too. In Chapter 3 of his Rule [in the year] 1223, he advised his followers that in going about the world “they should not be quarrelsome or take part in disputes with words…or criticize others; but they should be gentle, peaceful and unassuming, courteous and humble, speaking respectfully to everyone...Whatever house they enter, they should first say, ‘Peace to this house’”(Cf. Luke 10:5).
Like that of Christ, our mission on earth is to bring to others God’s peace-- Shalom is a wish that those so greeted will find healing and fullness of life. St. Francis saw this as his mission, too. In Chapter 3 of his Rule [in the year] 1223, he advised his followers that in going about the world “they should not be quarrelsome or take part in disputes with words…or criticize others; but they should be gentle, peaceful and unassuming, courteous and humble, speaking respectfully to everyone...Whatever house they enter, they should first say, ‘Peace to this house’”(Cf. Luke 10:5).
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
A man really loves his enemy when he is not offended by the injury done to himself, but for love of God feels burning sorrow for the sin his enemy has brought on his own soul, and proves his love in a practical way.”
Where there is injury, pardon,
During the violence-ridden Crusades, St. Francis discovered a path of peace, pardon and non-violence. The “little poor man” went to Egypt to engage in a peaceful dialogue with the sultan (head of the Muslim forces), a meeting in which a spirit of forgiveness, respect and understanding prevailed. Francis would have the same message for those in our times who are so quick to see violence as the only cure for terrorism.
Where there is doubt, faith,
When, as a young man, Francis found himself in a fog of doubt as to the nature of God’s care for him, he sought the face of God through prayer in solitary places. God opened Francis’ eyes of faith. The saint saw a vision of Christ gazing at him from the Cross with such a look of love that Francis’ “soul melted,” to use the words of his biographer, St. Bonaventure. The fog of doubt lifted for Francis, and he went through the world setting others free from their own burdens of doubt.
Where there is despair, hope/Where there is darkness, light,
Think of St. Francis embracing lepers and lovingly washing their sores. Surely, many of those suffering souls felt an inner surge of hope and human dignity when they experienced Francis’ care.
And where there is sadness, joy.
Francis used to say that he wanted his followers to go about the world like strolling minstrels, “to inspire the hearts of people and stir them to spiritual joy.” They give us an example to follow in our own day!
And so the prayer continues for each of us...
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned ,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. AMEN
